So if anyone out there has any sage advice that is constructive and helpful, I'm all for it.
Late to the party. Sounds like you have a partial solution to your most urgent problem. That's good. A couple of thoughts to share; I have been rumbling around in an RV for about 10 years now. The industry has certainly changed, but supply and demand are a thing, and currently there is more demand than supply. So all of our support folks, GD, Dealers, LCI, mobile techs, are booked, or stretched, or just simply picking the highest paying jobs. Part of doing what we do.
Cosmetic damage is annoying. After blowing a tire that took out a good section of cosmetic fenders it took me almost 6 months to get repairs. Insurance company, dealer, parts, etc. Patience paid off, repairs done. 6 weeks for a recent window replacement, mowing through a rock through it. I get your angst. It would be wonderful to just pull into an RV dealership and say this is broken, please fix it. Sorry, that is not our current industry standard.
Stupid mistakes, assholes in campgrounds, shouters, and otherwise bossy nosy people. As mentioned above I have my fair share of stupid mistakes, rubbing against trees, taking the corner out of a building, swinging my MC rack into a TT at a gas stop, bending the heck out of a landing gear, the list goes on, it's just life. Don't feel bad about it. And when someone is being agitated around you, just take a few minutes to wait for them to calm down. You don't have to buy into their agitation.
As a long time campground host I can tell you that I have seen some amazing stuff. Wrong way, bent way, too tight, can't back up for nothing; and the scene in the Chevy Chase Vacation movie is real, seen it, many times. But it's all good. This is how we learn.
Where the forum really excels is in specific problem solving. No one here can get you service faster, can't make GD respond, can't get the dealer to be responsive/responsible. Can't get a mobile tech to respond. But the forum can absolutely help you define the problem. Bent finders, not a big deal, gorilla tape is wonderful, and then, how to get the parts ordered to fix it. Beleive it or not, that is a big boondoggle for dealerships, you bring the parts and the problem they can do the work ASAP. Waiting on parts is huge, I waited 6 weeks to get a window replacement. No repair facility wants a repair job to sit on their lot for 6 weeks.
And yes, there are times when you will have to abandon your RV. 3 weeks in a motel 6 with 2 pets is not a fun time. We did it, RV fixed, OTRA (on the road again).
I fully feel your pain. To make the forum work best for you post pictures of the damage and what you need. There are a lot of folks here who have been in your shoes and are willing to guide you through positive solutions to your problem.
Let us know when you are on the road again.
Safe Travels!
